As a Halo fan from the beginning, I've approached every post-Bungie entry with some degree of trepidation. With Halo Infinite, that feels especially natural after our first look at the game left many feeling underwhelmed--at least concerning its visuals--but I'm pleased to say my time spent with Infinite so far has me enthusiastic about playing more. Or at least, as enthusiastic as one can be after spending several hours doing nothing but killing bots.

The first of Halo Infinite's betas (or technical tests/multiplayer previews, as 343 Industries calls them) is now over, and I played a bunch of what was generally available: 4v4 Slayer matches against a team of AI. Without the chance to try other modes or PvP matches (which were only playable for a brief period of time), there's only so much to glean from the test, but I walked away feeling quite positive about the experience.

The bots, for their part, were generally competent. Their difficulty setting ramped up throughout the test, and while they were pushovers in every match--it was Steaktacular after Steaktacular--they at least served as decent fodder to let me get a feel for the game. They wouldn't be my preferred means of playing Infinite unless they could pose a more meaningful threat, but it looks as if fighting bots will serve as a good training ground for newcomers or a fun diversion for those interested in a low-stakes, relaxing multiplayer experience.